Eliminate the most common foods associated with eczema. These include cow’s milk and all dairy products, sugar, yeast, wheat, eggs, peanuts and pork. Also eliminate any other food suspected of precipitating a breakout of eczema.

Culture the colon with lactobaccilus acidophilis and bifidobacteria in a good quality powder obtained from your health food store. It should contain 10 billion organisms per gram. With most products, sufficient doses would be one quarter of a teaspoon two times per day for infants to age two, and one half teaspoon two times daily for children age two or older. Probiotic products generally have a pleasant flavor and may be mixed with pure water, a bit of juice or puréed fruit.

Take plant enzymes which contain at least these four enzymes: protease, amylase, lipase and cellulase. Enzymes break down food particles and help to halt adverse food reactions. For children under age two, look for a children’s enzyme formula. Capsules may be opened and mixed with the first bite of food. Enzymes should be taken with each meal and all snacks.

Include grapefruit seed extract in your program for its antifungal, antiviral and antibacterial properties. (Do not confuse this with grapeseed extract, a potent antioxidant). Grapefruit seed extract comes in liquid form or capsules. As it has a very sour and bitter taste, it should be mixed into a favorite food or with a bit of maple or natural fruit syrup.

Grapefruit seed extract is strong and only a few drops are necessary. Consult the directions on the bottle as dose goes by body weight. Capsules are easier to administer as soon as a child is old enough to swallow them. This product, however, may not be necessary for children under age one.

Supplement with an oil blend that contains a balanced mixture of omega-6 and omega-3 essential fatty acids. Udo Erasmus, author of Fats That Heal, Fats That Kill, recommends that the omega-6 to omega-3 ratio be between 5:1 to 2:1 for long-term use. Individuals with eczema are usually deficient in these nutrients.

Flax seed oil and evening primrose oil have anti-inflammatory and immune-enhancing effects. Studies have shown that over two-thirds of eczema sufferers improve dramatically with supplementation and topical application of evening primrose oil alone. For best effect, however, an oil blend is recommended. Children require only one or two teaspoons per day. Eliminate antagonistic oils, which include supermarket processed oils and oils found in margarine, shortenings, salad dressings and packaged foods.

Vitamin A and zinc supplementation has also been shown to be very beneficial. Apply a calendula cream or gel that contains tea tree oil to the eczematous lesions up to several times a day. Flaxseed oil and evening primrose oil can be also added to the calendula cream which helps to speed up healing.

The above steps are the core program to healing eczema and should be started together and followed for four to five weeks. If further help is required, consult your health care professional or refer to The Encyclopedia of Natural Healing by alive books for additional ideas.

Carolee Bateson-Koch is a doctor of chiropractic and naturopathy with a special interest in the treatment of allergic conditions using natural therapies and nutrition.

Source: alive #215, September 2000